Game apparatus.



PATENTBD AUG. 11, 1903-. I

C. M. MUMFORD.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN; 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL,

1 nventor. MMunymZ war/es Witnesses m: NORRIS PETERS CO.PNOYOLITHG..wnsnmurom u c.

UNITED STATES Patented August 11, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,995, dated August11, 1903.

Application filed January 9, 1903- Serial No. 138,351. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. MUMFORD, a resident of Providence, in thecounty of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for playing games, and has for itsobject to make a simple and practical device collapsible and portable inconstruction which may be used for playing intensely interesting andentertaining games, which are hereinafter fully explained in thisspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the playing-board placed ona table with the playing-pins in position on the board; Fig. 2, a planview of the board. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3 3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the base-boards, showing theretaining tongue on the end thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of oneof the side boards, showing the groove across its inner face. Fig. 6 isan enlarged view of a portion of two side boards, illustrating my methodof locking the ends together, also showing one of the extension-pins forholding the net. Fig. 7 represents one of the coneshaped pins used inplaying one of the games on the board. Fig. 8 represents one of thecages used in another game played on the board. Fig. 9 is one of thesticks or clubs used in the games. Fig. 10 is the playingball used inthe games.

In the construction of my playing-board, A is the base-board, with aplurality of faces around its edge, preferably six. This baseboard maybe constructed of a number of pieces of light material grooved andtongued together at a a, so it can be easily taken apart and put into asmall space for stowing away or transportation. An enlarged View of oneof the base-boards illustrated in Fig. 4 shows the retaining-tongueb,which runs around the outside edge of the base-board, projectingoutwardly from each face and is for the purpose of entering acorresponding groove inserted to hold said boards in place.

'ing piece.

in each of the side boards B for the pul pose of supporting and holdingthem in position on the base-board. Each of these side boards B hasinterlocking ears 9 and g on its ends through which the locking-pins Dare To facilitate the assembling of the playing-board all of the partswill be numbered or suitably marked. The base-board will be put togetheron the floor or table, the tongues in one piece entering the groove inthe next correspond- Each of the side boards B is placed on the tonguesb, projecting from the sides around the base-board A, and then thelockin g pin D is inserted into the holes through the ears g gin eachjoint, thereby securely fastening the base-boards together and all ofthe side boards firmly in place around the edge of the base-board,forming a shallow box or tray. The locking-pins D may be eX- tendedabove the sides (see Figs. 1 and 3) and curved at their upper ends toallow a net to be stretched around the board to prevent the ball frombounding off of the table. At 2' t are spots on the base-board denotingthe position in which to place the playing-pins e e or the cages F. x

G is a short club or stick preferably flattened and projecting outwardlyat its lower end.

His a small ball, preferably made of solid rubber, so it will reboundfrom the rigid sides of the board against which it comes forcibly incontact.

The game is designed for two people to play, although four may play byhaving two on each side.

To play the game in which the pins 6 e are used, the board should beplaced on a low rigid table, (see Fig. 1,),high enough to allow theknees of the players to go under. Two players are seated at the table inchairs directly opposite the spots 1 i on each side of the board.Neither player mustleave this seat during the game. A pinis placed 011the spot in front of each, the main object of the game being to knockyour opponents pin down and keep your own standing. Each time youaccomplish this it counts you one. If he accidentally knocks his owndown, either with the ball, his stick, or hand, it also counts you one.To start the game, the ball H is placed on the spot it in the center ofthe board. The players strike the board sin1ultaneously with the ends oftheir sticks on each side of the ball, and'strike their sticks togetherover the ball, repeating this three times. As soon as they have strucktheir sticks together the third time over the ball the ball isconsidered in play, the object being to strike it as soon thereafter aspossible. If either of the players hit the ball before they have broughttheir sticks together for the third time it is a foul and counts againsthim. Three fouls take away one point. It is also a foul if one playerknocks his opponents pin down with his stick or byj ogglin g the tableor board. As soon as the ball is in play the point is to knock youropponents pin down, either by direct shots or by any combination ofcarom-shots which can be made on the sides of the board. It can readilybe seen that these combinations are numerous on account of the shape ofthe board. All the time that you are trying to knock your opponents pindown you must also be carefully guarding your own. Whenever a point hasbeen scored or apin knocked down the ball must be put in play again thesame as at the beginning of the game. If during the game the ball issent over the sides of the board onto the floor, the one who knocked itover must let his opponent have it to set in play again. The one whoscores ten points first is the winner. If at any time the pin of eitherplayer gets moved off of its spot Without being knocked down it must beleft wherever it stops until one of the players shall have scored apoint, and then it must be placed back on the spot as at first. As soonas a pin is knocked down the ball is out of play, counting only for theone down first, even if the second pin should subsequently fall by thesame stroke.

The second game, using the cages, is played with exactly the same ruleswhich govern that with the pins, with the exception that the cages areused instead of pins and that the ball must be put into and made to stayin these cages.

These games are for a parlor and as described above are exceedinglyinteresting and enter taining. The apparatus is very simple and may beput in a very compact form when the board is taken apart.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved game-board, comprising a sectional bottom and sides,removable pins adapted to lock the sections of said sides around saidbottom, said pins having upper extensions, and a net stretched aroundthe extensions of said pins, as set forth.

2. An improved game-board comprising a sectional bottom, side pieceshaving grooves adapted to receive the outer edges of said bottom,removable pins adapted to unite the adjoining ends of said side pieces,said pins having upper extensions, and a net stretched around theextensions of said pins,as set forth.

An improved game-board comprising a sectional bottom formed of tongueandgrooved strips, the outer edge of said bottom being provided with acontinuous tongue,side pieces having grooves arranged to receive saidcontinuous tongue, said side pieces having their ends provided withperforated coinciding ears, pins passed through said ears whereby saidside pieces are looked in position around said bottom and the sectionsof the latter held in their relative positions, said pins having upperextensions, and a net stretched around said extensions, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1903.

CHARLES M. MUMFORD.

In presence of-- HOWARD E. BARLOW, CHAS. P. DAY.

